Two Pfizer shots 90 per cent effective against hospitalisation: Study

The Lancet journal study underscores the importance of improving COVID-19 vaccination rates worldwide and monitoring vaccine effectiveness to determine which populations should be prioritised to receive booster shots

Two doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine are 90 per cent effective against hospitalisation from the disease for all variants, including Delta, for at least six months, according to a study published in The Lancet journal on Tuesday. The researchers found that over the study period, effectiveness of the vaccine against all SARS-COV-2 infections declined, falling from 88 per cent within one month after receiving two vaccine doses to 47 per cent after six months. However, the effectiveness of Pfizer (BNT162b2) vaccine against hospitalisations remained at 90 per cent overall for all variants, they said. The study underscores the importance of improving Covid-19 vaccination rates worldwide and monitoring vaccine effectiveness to determine which populations should be prioritised to receive booster shots, the researchers said.

“Our study confirms that vaccines are a critical tool for controlling the pandemic and remain highly effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalisation, including from the Delta and other variants of concern,” said the study’s lead author, Sara Tartof from Kaiser Permanente in the US. “Protection against infection does decline in the months following a second dose,” Tartof said.

The researchers noted that considerations for booster shots should take global Covid-19 vaccine supply into account as people in many countries around the world have not yet received a primary vaccination series. The research team analysed 3,436,957 electronic health records from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health system between December 4, 2020 and August 8, 2021 to assess vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections and Covid-19-related hospitalisation. During the study period, 5.4 per cent of people were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Among those who were infected, 6.6 per cent were hospitalised.

J&J seeks booster shot authorisation

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) asked the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to allow extra shots of its Covid-19 vaccine as the US government moves toward expanding its booster campaign to millions more vaccinated Americans. J&J said it filed a request with the FDA to authorise boosters for people who previously received the company’s one-shot vaccine. 

UK to spend $678 mn to help with jobs

The UK will spend over 500 million pounds ($678 million) to help vulnerable workers into jobs after the end of a furlough scheme that protected employed people from the brunt of pandemic, the government announced. Workers leaving the furlough scheme and unemployed people over the age of 50 will be helped back into work, the Treasury said in a statement.

Bali to open for foreign visitors

Indonesia will reopen the resort island Bali for foreign visitors from certain countries starting from October 14 amid a decline in fresh Covid-19 cases, a government official said. Indonesia will receive international visitors from South Korea, China, Japan, New Zealand, as well as from Abu Dhabi and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.

Russia suspends public gatherings

Russia has suspended public gatherings of over 3,000 people amid a new wave of the pandemic, an official announced. Mass gatherings will only be allowed in accordance with regulations issued by Russia’s chief sanitary doctor, head of the country’s consumer rights and human well-being watchdog Anna Popova said.

25,71,22
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

23,55,98,854
Total no. of cases worldwide

48,12,498
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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